Lock for electric circuits



Feb. 26, 1924. 1,485,060

H. T. THOMAS LOCK FOR "ELECTRIC, CIRCUITS Filed Deep. 6', 1920 f4 flan: TZZOM/JJ,

Patented Feb. 26, 1924.

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U N l T E D S HORACE T. THOMAS, 011' LANSING, MICHIGAN.

LOOK FOR ELECTRIC CIRCUITS.

Application filed December 6, 1920. Serial No. 428,664.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HORACE T. THoMAs, citizen of the United States, residing at Lansing, county of. Ingham, State of Michigan, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement-in Locks for Electric Circuits, and declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying draw ings, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to a lock for electric circuits and a special object of my improvement is to provide an improved lock for interrupting the ignition circuit upon an automobile. I secure this object in the device illustrated in the accompanying drawings-in which:

Figure 1 is a face elevation of a panel adapted to be secured to the instrument board of an automobile, having an apparatus embodying my invention attached thereto.

Fig. 2 is a rear view of the central portion of said panel to a largescale.

Fig. 3 is a section substantially on the line IIIIII of Fig. 2. h

Fig. 4c is a detailed section of the lower portion of Fig. 3, the parts being in a (litterent relative position.

Fig. 5 is a detailed perspective view of the guide .plate.

a is a panel which may have instruments 6 and c in it and an observation light (Z.

c is a cylindrical aperture formed through the panel at having its outer portion somewhat enlarged. f is a cylindrical casing ot a pin-lock the barrel of which fits and is adapted to reciprocate in the narrower portion of the aperture 6, its head reciprocating in the larger portion of said aperture. 9 is a guide plate having the overturned lugs g at its upper end. Said plate is secured to the inner end of the barrel of the lock, the lugs g engaging against abutment-s g g on the panel a so as to prevent the rotation of the barrel of the lock but to permit the same to reciprocate in an axial direction. f is a cylindrical rod passing'through a corresponding aperture through the barrel 7 eccentric thereto and in the construction shown nearer the lower portion oi said: barrel. 7 is a disc, having a circular periphery, secured eccentrically upon the inner end of the rod g.

h is a locking pin adaptedto reciprocate vertically in an aperture in the casing a. h is a compression spring acting upon the pin it to normally and yieldingly hold it in its lowest position. n

' is aspring secured to the casing aat its upper end having its lower end free and resting against the inner surface of the disc f The spring j normally holds lock barrel with its attached parts in its outerposition as shown in Fig. 4;.

7c is a contact piece also secured to the casing a. The spring 7' is adapted to make contact with the piece is to complete the ignition circuit when the lock barrel is at its furthest outer position as shown in Fig. 4..

When the lock barrel. f isforced inward it separates the spring j from the contact piece is as shown in Fig. 3 thus breaking the ignition circuit.

When the rod f is turned to one position the eccentric disc f is carried beyond the upper portion of the barrel f'as shown in Fig. 3 and when said barrel isforced to its innermost position the pin it engages in front of the disc 7"", as'shownin said figure, thus holding the barrel in its inner position and the spring j in the position in which the circuit is broken. When the rod is turned to 180 degrees from the position shown in *ig. 3, and as shown in Fig. 4, the upper portion of its periphery is brought upon a level with the upper portion of the periphery of the barrel f, thus the barrel andv disc may be moved under the pin it and will be so moved by the force of the sprlng until contact is made with the piece 76 and the ignition circuit is then completed.

If the parts are so proportioned-that in the last described position of the disc f the upper part of its periphery is below the upper part of the periphery of the barrel 7 the pin it will engage against the inner end of said barrel or the plate 9 thereon to prevent the inward movement of said barrel until the disc f is turned to a position which shall lift the pin it above the upper part 01 the barrel f.

The usual notched-edge key may be 111- serted in the key hole i to adjust the pun; of the lock and thus the rod f may be turned by the key to the desired position. When the parts are adjusted to the position as shown in Fig. 3 and the key removed the ignition circuit is broken and the barrel f is prevei'it-ed by .its pins from being turned thus the ignition cannot be operated by an unauthorized person.

' case the lock will be i-nthe shadow and will not be easily observed. The panel a is secured to the instrument board by screws or bolts entering from the opposite side of the dash or instrument board from that upon which the panel is placed so that the securing means shall be inaccessible from the panel side.

The outer end of the casing is on a level with the surface of the instrument board when the lock is not engaged and is entirely within said aperture when engaged.

Claims:

1. In an apparatus of the kind described, an electric circuit, an inaccessible apparatus for making and breaking said circuit, an accessible part adapted to reciprocate to 0perate said make and break -apparatus, a spring actuated bolt pressing against the surface of said reciprocating part and a retatable means carried by said reciprocating part adapted to engage said bolt to prevent or permit its engagement of said reciprocating part to permit or prevent the motion of the same.

2'. In an apparatus of the kind described, an electric circuit, an inaccessible apparatus for making and breaking said circuit, an accessible part adapted to reciprocate to operate said make and break apparatus, a spring actuated bolt tending to press laterally against the surface of said reciprocating part, a rotatable part extending through said reciprocating part, an eccentric cam onv the inner end of said rotating tric cam on the inner end of said rotating part so arranged as to engage said bolt to lock said reciprocating part in its disengaging position or to be turned to a P081:

tion to permit the movement of said reciprocating part or to be turned to a position to permit said bolt to engage said reciprocating part to prevent the motion thereof; In testimony whereof I sign this specification.

HORACE T. THOMAS. 

